Story behind the Lens Art often finds you when plans go awry. On February 16, 2025, an intense winter ice storm swept through Orange County, New York. While the freezing rain brought the world to a standstill, it gifted me a rare window of crystalline beauty. I found this Japanese Andromeda (Pieris japonica) perfectly preserved under a thick coating of rime ice. The way the ice encapsulated the vibrant crimson buds felt as though nature was pausing to protect its most brilliant colors from the sub-zero cold. Composition This macro study is built on the interplay of color and texture. The composition focuses on the sharp contrast between the deep red of the plant's buds and the jagged, frost-like structures of the rime ice. Formed when freezing fog or windblown water droplets instantly freeze upon contact with cold surfaces, this rime ice creates a dramatic, directional texture. By utilizing a shallow depth of field, the "ice berries" are isolated against a soft, ethereal winter background, emphasizing the delicate, crystalline spikes that formed as the freezing mist met the dormant branches in the Hudson Valley chill. Fine Art Quality To ensure the vibrant crimson and the crystalline clarity of the ice translate perfectly from the lens to your walls, I personally print each piece using the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1100. Artisan Textured (Palo Duro Etching 315): A museum-grade, 100% cotton cold-press paper. Its watercolor-like texture adds a tangible, three-dimensional depth to the frozen details. Vibrant Metallic (Polar Luster Metallic 255): My top recommendation for this piece. The pearlescent finish makes the rime ice appear almost like liquid glass, catching the light with the same intensity as a sunlit frost. Standard Matte (Polar Matte 230): A clean, glare-free archival surface that allows the natural winter colors to stand out without any distracting reflections. Starting at $45.00. Available Sizes & Presentation Small (Nominal 8" x 12"): Printed on a 9" x 13" paper sheet with a 7" x 10.5" image area. Fits standard 12" x 16" frames using a 8.5" x 12.5" mat opening. Medium (Nominal 12" x 18"): Printed on a 14" x 20" paper sheet with a 12" x 18" image area (1-inch surround). Fits 18" x 24" frames using a custom 13.5" x 19.5" mat opening. Master Print (Nominal 15" x 20"): Printed on a 17" x 22" paper sheet with a 15" x 20" image area (1-inch surround). Fits 20" x 24" or custom frames using a 16.5" x 21.5" mat opening. Includes Free Domestic Shipping. Handcrafted to Order To guarantee museum-grade quality, every print is individually produced in my studio using archival pigment inks. Each piece is allowed to cure for a full 24 hours before being hand-signed, titled, and carefully packaged. Please allow 2–3 business days for production prior to shipping. Artist’s Signature Every print includes a border surround designed for ease of matting and safe handling. I hand-title each piece in the lower-left margin beneath the image and sign/date it in graphite on the lower-right—a classic gallery finish that marks it as an authentic TPegg Photography original. Bottom Left: Ice Berries Bottom Right: TPegg | 16 Feb 2025 Artist’s Note "There is a specific silence that follows an ice storm in New York. While the world felt frozen and immovable, these Japanese Andromeda buds were a spark of life in the grey. This photograph remains one of my favorite reminders of the quiet, frozen beauty found right in my own backyard in Orange County."
